This is a discussion on Pros and Cons within the online poker forums, in the Poker Rooms section; What are some of the pros and cons of all the different poker sites to choose from? I'm a US player and wasn't sure about

What are some of the pros and cons of all the different poker sites to choose from? I'm a US player and wasn't sure about all the sites available for me to play at. I also have a Mac. I know that used to limit the possibilities of where I could play. Any information is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

#2

11th February 2014, 7:49 PM

goodgameme [75]

Poker at: Bovada

Game: Holdem

I just started playing again 3 months ago but here are reviews on the bigger 3 I play on. Iím not sure if they offer Mac versions or not though. Also I play at the micro SnG/MTT level.

Bovada
Pros: Best traffic for a US site. Generally has the weakest players. Best traffic at Micro SnG level. Best cashouts of the 3.
Cons: No Rakeback. Virtually no freerolls. Micro MTT level is ok but not great. You can only play 4 SnGs or Cash games at a time (unlimited MTTs).
Pro or Con? : Anonymous Tables (Everyone is just a number). Tracking software on other players only works for that session so if you meet them again you have no stats on them.

Carbon (Merge network)
Pros: Decent Traffic. Best Micro MTTs of the 3. Ok micro SnG traffic. Can use tracking software.
Cons: No Rakeback. Slower Cashouts than Bovada. Only have freerolls during certain promotions.

All 3 have decent software with Bovadaís and Carbons being slightly better than ACRs.

#3

11th February 2014, 8:00 PM

SeaRun [697]

Online Poker at: PokerStars

Game: HoldEm

Quote:

Originally Posted by goodgameme

SNIP<<<<<<

Bovada
Pros: Best traffic for a US site. Generally has the weakest players. Best traffic at Micro SnG level. Best cashouts of the 3.
Cons: No Rakeback. Virtually no freerolls. Micro MTT level is ok but not great. You can only play 4 SnGs or Cash games at a time (unlimited MTTs).
Pro or Con? : Anonymous Tables (Everyone is just a number). Tracking software on other players only works for that session so if you meet them again you have no stats on them.

>>>>>SNIP

You may have just talked me into opening an account at Bovada. To me, that's a major pro. I've actually shut down the computer and walked away from the game slow play got so bad.

#4

11th February 2014, 8:23 PM

tazer [206]

Poker at: Carbon

Game: Holdem

Looks like I will be trying out Bovada. Thank you goodgameme!

#5

12th February 2014, 7:44 AM

wanderingthehall [253]

Online Poker at: carbon poker

Game: holdem

I'm on a mac too. ACR doesn't have mac software, so unless you have a windows emulator you won't be able to play there. Carbon, Bovada, and Seals With Clubs are the three sites I play on.

Carbon - Best option on a mac. By far the best software and largest player base. Plus they have reliable cashouts averaging 2-3 weeks. Downside is that take is kinda high and MTTs are all re-entries with ridiculously long late registration periods.

Bovada - The software really blows, I don't know if that's just for macs or if it's like that for everyone. On a mac the lobby is huge, you can't move the lobby, and if you minimize the lobby it will minimize all Bovada windows. I hate getting my table accidentally trapped behind the lobby. Bovada's players are anonymous which may be good or bad to you. The upside is that Bovada also has decent cashouts and their customer service is top notch. If you play there, make at least one deposit because if you have deposited there and decide not to play for awhile they may send you bribes to get you to come back.

SWC is it's own beast. It's a bitcoin site, the software isn't the best, the site's management is kinda shady. However, the play is very soft and it's also very easy to get money on and off the site. You can have money in your account within a couple of days, but I can trade it fast for amazon at very good rates so that's what I do.

#6

12th February 2014, 5:53 PM

OGslikrick [60]

Poker at: Bovada

Game: holdem

re: Poker & Pros and Cons

Im in the exact same situation. Im a US player looking for a site to grind out micro SnGs using a mac. I just made an account on cardschat to say thank you for starting this post. I have played It a couple of free rolls on Carbon (before they changed their free roll structure) and really like there software. However Bovada seems to have more micro level games going with decent traffic. I will be making my first deposit on Bovada tonight. Thanks agin for the post and helping me make my decision.

#7

12th February 2014, 9:19 PM

goodgameme [75]

Online Poker at: Bovada

Game: Holdem

The software issue must be Mac related because you can move and minimize the lobby on the Windows version without it affecting your tables.

As far as traffic, If you look on poker scout you will see that Bovada (Bodog) has the most traffic for Americans. It could be a case that you see more traffic at Carbon for the game you are playing.

#8

13th February 2014, 1:05 AM

tazer [206]

Poker at: Carbon

Game: Holdem

Quote:

Originally Posted by wanderingthehall

Bovada - The software really blows, I don't know if that's just for macs or if it's like that for everyone. On a mac the lobby is huge, you can't move the lobby, and if you minimize the lobby it will minimize all Bovada windows. I hate getting my table accidentally trapped behind the lobby. Bovada's players are anonymous which may be good or bad to you. The upside is that Bovada also has decent cashouts and their customer service is top notch. If you play there, make at least one deposit because if you have deposited there and decide not to play for awhile they may send you bribes to get you to come back.

I have no problems moving the lobby and minimizing it when I am at a table. It must just be on your end. No problems at all on my mac. That's weird that it would be that way for you.

#9

13th February 2014, 4:20 AM

aznman08 [357]

Online Poker at: Bovada

Game: Holdem

Quote:

Originally Posted by tazer

I have no problems moving the lobby and minimizing it when I am at a table. It must just be on your end. No problems at all on my mac. That's weird that it would be that way for you.

This also happens to me when I'm on my macbook pro. Somehow the top bar of the software is hidden under the apple taskbar and I can't move the software.

#10

13th February 2014, 6:09 AM

tazer [206]

Poker at: Carbon

Game: Holdem

Quote:

Originally Posted by aznman08

This also happens to me when I'm on my macbook pro. Somehow the top bar of the software is hidden under the apple taskbar and I can't move the software.

If it gets stuck like that again try this...

command+f5 - this will open voice over mode (only way to do this)

then...

control+option+` - this should let you use the arrow keys to move the window down to where you can grab the top bar to move it. Then command+f5 will close the voice over.

Hope that helps you.

#11

13th February 2014, 6:18 AM

goodgameme [75]

Online Poker at: Bovada

Game: Holdem

Quote:

Originally Posted by aznman08

This also happens to me when I'm on my macbook pro. Somehow the top bar of the software is hidden under the apple taskbar and I can't move the software.

This happened on my PC with Carbon until I updated Adobe.

#12

13th February 2014, 6:25 AM

wanderingthehall [253]

Poker at: carbon poker

Game: holdem

re: Poker & Pros and Cons

Quote:

Originally Posted by tazer

If it gets stuck like that again try this...

command+f5 - this will open voice over mode (only way to do this)

then...

control+option+` - this should let you use the arrow keys to move the window down to where you can grab the top bar to move it. Then command+f5 will close the voice over.

Hope that helps you.

I gave that a try and it just told me it couldn't move the window any further (it didn't move it at all).

#13

13th February 2014, 6:26 AM

tazer [206]

Online Poker at: Carbon

Game: Holdem

That's weird, it lets me... Not sure what else you can do besides trying to reinstall the software.

#14

19th February 2014, 11:34 PM

ShinePoker [1]

Game: holdem

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Does anyone have a good bonus code for Bovada? where can I find the best option?

http://www.cardschat.com/us-poker-sites.php

Agree that Bovada is great with their freerolls and soft competition, but the only problem I have there is that their $1 SNG's are turbo. I prefer the $1 SNG's (regular) at Carbon.

Best of luck

#17

21st February 2014, 4:16 AM

wanderingthehall [253]

Online Poker at: carbon poker

Game: holdem

Quote:

Originally Posted by tazer

That's weird, it lets me... Not sure what else you can do besides trying to reinstall the software.

So I decided to give this a try. Uninstalled the software, now I get an error on Bovada's website when I try to re-download it. I'm going to have to run through a bunch of steps just to try and play at all.

I'm lazy and have other sites I can play on, so it's been a couple of days and I haven't bothered trying yet.